Storage Technology Corporation

Oracle International Corporation

Oracle America, Inc.

Donald Robert Manes

Joseph Paul Manes

Daniel James Plutt

Kenneth Lee Manes

Bernard Alan Johnson

Bradley A Wilkin

Timothy Craig Ostwald

Roger Harry Grow

James P Campbell

Systems and methods are described for maintaining secure and contiguous guide transitions in the context of modular installations. Embodiments of the guides are configured to automatically register and couple with each other during installation of their respective modules to provide relatively high tolerance guide transitions, even in the context of relatively lower tolerance modular installations. In some embodiments, a guide is configured to be biased in a first position when its respective module is not installed. When its module is located in a partial-install location relative to an adjacent module with the guide in the first position, guide features mechanically register with features of the adjacent module's guide. When moved into a full-install position, the guide moves into a second position causing the guide to finally register and couple with the adjacent guide, thereby manifesting a stable and contiguous transition between the guides.

Expansion guide alignment for a storage library

Embodiments include systems and methods for securing a magazine in a housing using a latching system. Embodiments operate in context of a storage library having removable magazines that store data cartridges. For example, a floating, two-part latching system operates in either an operable state or an unlatched state. The latching system includes a setter and a latch, where the latch is configured to float on the setter and to be biased into a latched position. When the setter is in a first position, it permits the latch to float between at least a fully latched position and a fully unlatched position. When the setter is moved to a second position, it moves the latch into the fully unlatched position and restricts the latch from moving into the latched position.

Magazine latch for a storage library

An expandable storage library for storing digital storage media, such as storage tapes or disks is provided. The library includes a base unit and robotic system to which additional expansion units may be added. Several expansion units may be installed in the library with the base unit so that the robotic system can access media storage racks in any of the expansion units or in the base unit. Doors on the base unit and expansion unit may be interlocked together to function as a single door. A Z pole guide on the base unit may be extended by adding expansion guide poles that guide the movement of the robotic system through the library.

Method of expanding a storage media library having interconnected doors and a replaced panel

Customer expandable modular rack mount library using expansion module units having features to join access doors and align components between units

A data storage library having two inward facing storage arrays and two outward (i.e., back to back) facing arrays between the two inward facing arrays, such that an access device positioned to access one of the outward facing arrays can perform a rotation to be positioned to access one of the inward facing arrays. Thus a single access device can access all four arrays only by performing translations and rotations as necessary.

Double density data storage library using back to back array walls

A backplane is disclosed for attaching storage devices to the backplane that utilize removable media. The backplane is distributed and scalable. The backplane includes a generally horizontal portion for distributing electronic signals to the storage devices and a plurality of connectors coupled to said generally horizontal portion for receiving the storage devices. The storage devices are coupled to the backplane utilizing the generally horizontal portion. The storage devices are not coupled to the backplane utilizing a front or a back of any one of the storage devices such that the front and back of each storage device remain accessible when the storage devices are coupled to the backplane.

Distributed scalable backplane

A storage library system for storing cartridges having cartridge notches formed therein includes a receiver and magazine assembly. The receiver forms an opening therein and includes an actuator member. The magazine is adapted for engagement within the receiver opening. The magazine includes a plurality of cells formed therein for receiving the cartridges. The magazine includes a locking member engageable with the actuator member to hold the locking member longitudinally in place between locked and unlocked positions with respect to the notch of each cartridge for automatically locking and unlocking the cartridge in each of the plurality of cells as the magazine is longitudinally moved with respect to the receiver and the locking member.

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Arvada, CO, United States of America

Donald Robert Manes